Gary_Bakerloo
New member
FORMER Wests Magpies chairman Jim Marsden is understood to be at the centre of a stand-off between ARL and News Ltd representatives over candidates for the independent commission.
Marsden, who was chairman of the Magpies when they merged with Balmain in 1999 to form the Wests Tigers joint venture, is believed to be the preferred choice of ARL chairman John Chalk and South Sydney chairman Nicholas Pappas, but News Ltd chief operating officer Peter Macourt and QRL director Terry Mackenroth want former Ansett executive Mark Williamson.
The Herald was told earlier this week that Williamson was one of the eight commissioners chosen by the four-man sub-committee but his position now appears to be in doubt.
Williamson was nominated by the QRL and has the support of News Ltd, who owned Ansett when he was the now defunct airline's Queensland manager in the late 1990s.
He managed a sponsorship deal between Ansett and the News Ltd-owned Brisbane Broncos and was later appointed to the board of the North Queensland Cowboys. However, the ARL and NRL clubs are pushing for Marsden, who has had a long involvement in rugby league.
He is also a senior partner in Marsdens Law Firm, which was founded by Marsden's late brother, John, and a community leader in the Campbelltown area, where he is former president of the Chamber of Commerce.
The Herald revealed last Saturday that Sydney Olympics boss Gary Pemberton, former Qantas chief financial officer Peter Gregg, IT guru John Grant and league great Wayne Pearce had all been unanimously agreed for roles as commissioners and it has since emerged that Catherine Harris, co-founder of Harris Farm Markets would also be on the inaugural independent commission.
News Ltd's corporate affairs director, Greg Baxter, said in yesterday's Herald that the parties had agreed on all eight commissioners and letters would be sent out to the successful candidates. But Chalk insisted that was not the case and it is understood there was some tension in negotiations yesterday.
With the QRL having agreed to the new constitution for the commission, and signed the members agreement for the new body after being given conditional control of the game in Queensland, including the second-tier state competition, the major sticking point is now over a non-compete clause the ARL and clubs want News Ltd to sign.
News Ltd has offered a five-year commitment but the ARL and clubs want the media company to guarantee it will never again attempt to start a Super League-type breakaway competition.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/commission-standoff-over-marsden-20110602-1fixv.html#ixzz1OAGg631A
I note with interest the reference to being a community leader in Campbelltown. Is this a response to counter AFL? Reason being that I also read that Gould has met with Gallop about the AFL in the greater west.
Marsden, who was chairman of the Magpies when they merged with Balmain in 1999 to form the Wests Tigers joint venture, is believed to be the preferred choice of ARL chairman John Chalk and South Sydney chairman Nicholas Pappas, but News Ltd chief operating officer Peter Macourt and QRL director Terry Mackenroth want former Ansett executive Mark Williamson.
The Herald was told earlier this week that Williamson was one of the eight commissioners chosen by the four-man sub-committee but his position now appears to be in doubt.
Williamson was nominated by the QRL and has the support of News Ltd, who owned Ansett when he was the now defunct airline's Queensland manager in the late 1990s.
He managed a sponsorship deal between Ansett and the News Ltd-owned Brisbane Broncos and was later appointed to the board of the North Queensland Cowboys. However, the ARL and NRL clubs are pushing for Marsden, who has had a long involvement in rugby league.
He is also a senior partner in Marsdens Law Firm, which was founded by Marsden's late brother, John, and a community leader in the Campbelltown area, where he is former president of the Chamber of Commerce.
The Herald revealed last Saturday that Sydney Olympics boss Gary Pemberton, former Qantas chief financial officer Peter Gregg, IT guru John Grant and league great Wayne Pearce had all been unanimously agreed for roles as commissioners and it has since emerged that Catherine Harris, co-founder of Harris Farm Markets would also be on the inaugural independent commission.
News Ltd's corporate affairs director, Greg Baxter, said in yesterday's Herald that the parties had agreed on all eight commissioners and letters would be sent out to the successful candidates. But Chalk insisted that was not the case and it is understood there was some tension in negotiations yesterday.
With the QRL having agreed to the new constitution for the commission, and signed the members agreement for the new body after being given conditional control of the game in Queensland, including the second-tier state competition, the major sticking point is now over a non-compete clause the ARL and clubs want News Ltd to sign.
News Ltd has offered a five-year commitment but the ARL and clubs want the media company to guarantee it will never again attempt to start a Super League-type breakaway competition.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/commission-standoff-over-marsden-20110602-1fixv.html#ixzz1OAGg631A
I note with interest the reference to being a community leader in Campbelltown. Is this a response to counter AFL? Reason being that I also read that Gould has met with Gallop about the AFL in the greater west.
